Vis: The Best Island in Croatia.

With over seven hundred islands in Croatia it’s hard to choose which islands to visit. According to Wikipedia, there’s only forty seven that are inhabited so that helps a bit!

Our favourite island in Croatia has retained it’s charm and resisted development. It has some of the best beaches in the country, has fabulous fresh seafood and local wines and imparts a feeling of laziness even though there is a lot to do. .

Sounds idyllic doesn’t it….and it is!For us, the best island in Croatia is Vis.

Vis is the island that draws us back to Croatia.

It is the furthest island in the Adriatic from the Croatian coast hidden behind the islands of Hvar, Brac and Solta.
For many years it was the military and naval headquarters of Tito’s partisan army and was closed to the public until 1989. This meant that it escaped large commercial development and was able to retain its natural beauty. The architecture on the island dates back to the early days of Venetians rule. Beautiful old stone buildings, made from stone from the nearby island of Brac, line narrow streets and alleyways in Vis and Komiza.

The main towns on Vis

Vis (Luka)

Vis town is situated in a protected bay…Viska Luka… on the northern end of the island. At one end of the bay is the port of Vis (Luka), where the ferries from Split arrive. Cafes and bars that spill into the squares and along the waterfront, come to life at night.

The walk to the other end of the bay and the small village of Kut takes twenty minutes. The road runs along the waters edge providing glorious views of the bay.

Kut

Kut has a lovely feel about it…some of the town’s old stone buildings are built to the water’s edge whilst others surround the square. There’s a few bars in the square and a couple of restaurants along the waterfront but on the whole it is quieter at this end of the bay! Vis’ best restaurant, Pojoda, can be found in Kut.

The village of Kut at sunset

Yachts on the waterfront at Kut

Kut

Komiza

Komiza on the western end of the island, is predominately a fishing village.
The village is a delight to wander around, fresh seafood graces the local restaurant’s menus and cafes and bars line the promenade. You can also take a boat from Komiza to visit the Blue Cave on Bisevo Island.

Komiza

Vis has fabulous beaches

Vis has some of the best beaches in Croatia. The southern coast is dotted with beautiful bays and secluded coves. Most of the beaches are stone beaches but there are a few sand beaches on the island. Stoncica, Stiniva and Srebena are favourites. Granvalac which is in walking distance from Kut, is another. There will be more on these beaches next week. Read more about these fabulous beaches at 4 of the Best Beaches on Vis

Stiniva Beach

Stoncica Beach

Stunning clear blue water

Vis has great food and wine

It was not an easy time for the people on Vis during the years the island was closed. Many left to seek fame and fortune. Those who remained were were either fisherman or involved in agriculture. Today these industries are flourishing and as a result there are some interesting wines and great food available.

Local Wine

Driving through the centre of the island you will pass many vineyards. The Vugava grapes used to make white wine, were thought to have been bought to the island by the Romans whilst the red wine grape, the plavac, is a Croatian favourite. Olive groves also flourish and the olive oil from here is excellent.

Vineyards in central Vis

Local wine for sale

White wine with a view

Many of the vineyards also offer delicious local cuisine. Cooking under the peka or bell is a Croatian speciality. You should definitely try this at least once whilst you are in Croatia. Lamb, beef or fish together with potatoes and other vegetables, are cooked for hours in a large pan over coals. Slow cooking at its best and the result is delicious.

Cooking under the peka

How to get to Vis

Jadrolinija Ferries leave Split for Vis twice a day and take two and a half hours. The boats also take vehicles.Krilo (Kapetan Luka) have a fast service from Split to Vis taking one and a half hours. They do not take cars. Last year they started operating a service on Tuesdays between Split, Hvar and Vis. This could be very handy if you are going between these islands and it would be worth arranging your itinerary around it but please check their latest schedule first.

Where to stay

There are only four hotels on the island. Of these the Hotel San Giorgio is the best.

Most people that go to Vis stay in one of the islands many apartments in either in Vis or in Komiza. These can easily be found the web. Personally I love to stay in the Kut end of Vis town.

Villa Vis

Villa Vis Croatia

We stayed at the Villa Vis Croatia, a four room B&B in a fabulous position in Kut whose room rates range from 80E in low season to 125E in high season based on a three night stay. There is no lift. Access to the rooms is via a small spiral staircase. I recommend the green room which has it’s own entrance. Tatjana is a fabulous hostess and knows everything there is to know about Vis and can help you decide where to eat and what to do.

51 Responses to Vis: The Best Island in Croatia.

WOW! I love the lobster photo. I want to be at the beach right now! We only spent 5 days between Split, Trogir and Brac Island last year. Certainly not enough time to see much, but enough to know we want to return to Croatia again! 🙂

Summer’s coming Joy…it won’t belong till you can be at the beach and enjoying fresh seafood! Croatia has so many fabulous places. The islands are just one of them. We went to Brac one year after another time on Vis.Maybe you’ll visit Vis one year!

Hi Jenny, hope the blog’s still open. We’re planning our summer holiday which starts at Pula & ends at Split with 5 nights planned on Vis. Is it worth taking our hire car with us to Vis or can we see the island by public transport/bike/walking? Thanks

Hi Peter. Life will be easier on Vis if you have a car with you or hire one there. There is only a bus to Komiza. To see the beaches on the other side of the island you will either need a car or scooter or hire a boat for the day…which is great fun with or without a driver (you need to have a boat licence) ! It may be worth doing the sums to see how it works out cost wise of you take your car with you or not. Have fun!

I went here years ago on a day trip and for the life of me couldn’t remember the name but it all came flooding back as soon as I saw the pictures! Finally I can tell people about the loveliness of Vis. That lobster photo is amazing!

Wow, I have only been to Dubrovnik and Hvar and while I realized they were very touristy before I went there, seeing this makes me really upset I didn’t seek out a but more of a hidden island. It is getting a little cold here, so maybe a perusing of Skyskanner is in order! Great post.

Yes, Vis is very different to Hvar though Starigrad, where we stayed on Hvar, was much quieter than the main town. Vis is a fabulous island…there is more to come in the following weeks about it. It’s not too late to book for this summer!

It’s a fabulous island Red. We loved our time there! We are spoilt in Australia with our sandy beaches….we’re on Rottnest now and the water is the same colour but we won’t tell too many people about it!!

Thank you for this wonderful post Jenny. I’m definitely eating Lobster on the grill. I had been wondering about how to get from Hvar to Vis without going back to Split. You have me enthused for Croatia now. Time to start booking. 🙂

I’m very jealous of you heading there soon Jan! The boat I mentioned may solve that problem otherwise you have to go back to Split which is a nuisance! Have a fabulous time and have a lobster on the grill for me!

I have been going thru your old posts little by little. When checking one of the posts, I saw Eleni’s name on one of your Athens recap. I know her! As a matter of fact, I may see her soon. I am still in awe. Can’t believe how small the world is!

Hi Ruth. Great to see you here. It is indeed a small world! I met Eleni through my facebook page and we arranged to meet when I was in Athens for TBEX. She was a wonderful hostess and introduced us to an Athens we would not have found. If you do see her, please give her my best wishes.

Interesting about the food in Vis. When we spent time in Croatia, mostly near Zadar and Hvar, I found the food options repetitive and uncreative, with restaurants offering the same menus everywhere. We even tried to buy seafood or fish at a local market to cook at our apartment, which was a hassle and a half. But, these photos of amazing seafood makes me think we were missing something for sure!

I have a food post coming up in a couple of weeks Michele, that may offer even more temptations! There’s so much to see in Croatia. we spent seven weeks there and had to go back the following year for another three weeks as we hadn’t seen it all. We also wanted to go back to Vis! Where in Croatia are you going?

Lovely photos!
I haven’t been to the islands of Croatia but have twice-visited the Istria Peninsular. I just love that in Croatia you can still find beautiful, unspoilt places where the rich history of the country is still on display.

Thanks Yasha. We spent seven weeks in Croatia two years ago and found so many unspoilt places. Vis was our favourite so we went back again last year after we had been to Istria. I could easily go back again!

I’ve been to some of Croatia’s islands and just loved them but I didn’t know about Vis and its many charms! I had the same menu experiences as Amber mentions so was not impressed by Croatian dining .But t loved their enthusiasm for the water, their interesting and painful history and the spectacular views everywhere!.Thanks for bringing Vis to my attention!

Yes Kay, the lack of depth in the menus is a bit tricky especially when you are spending a long time there. However the fresh seafood, the stunning beaches and the warmth of the people on Vis well and truly made up for it!

We found it hard to choose too heather so we spend seven weeks in the country and still didn’t make it to Istria! I wrote a post on where we spend our time so you may like to check it out to help you. It depends on the time of the year you are going too.Being so close, you could make a couple of trips at different times to see different areas!

I am so looking forward to visiting Croatia — nothing planned yet, but I’m working on it! I had no idea that there were 700 islands. Well, it looks like Vis is a good choice and I appreciate the rundown on what to see and do. And about the fab food and wine, of course!

your blog post about Vis was very helpful. there is a small group of us touring south Croatia (before we attend a wedding in the north) and we are trying to decide which islands to visit. My husband and I have already been to Brac. Vis seemed like a great idea. You have convinced me to visit. thank you!

After two visits to Vis, we’d love to get back to Croatia so Lostavos could be the answer. I’ll check it out. I hope you enjoy Vis as much as we did. I’d love to hear how you found it in comparison. Have fun!

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I love to travel! I love exploring the markets, trying new tastes and finding fabulous restaurants so this blog is also about food!
I'd love to think that by sharing my stories, you will be able to add new experiences to your dream trip or simply enjoy the escape with us
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